France goes into 3rd national lockdown amid fears of 3rd COVID-19 wave
The Prime Minister of France – Jean Castex has announced a month-long lockdown over fears of third wave of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in 16 regions including Paris and Nice.
More than 21 million people will be placed under lockdown which will commence from midnight today, i.e., Saturday, March 20, 2021. This comes after France reported 34,998 fresh cases and 269 casualties in the past 24 hours. This is 23% more as compared to last week.
Speaking on the occasion, Castex said, “Our conviction is that if new measures are necessary, we need to keep the same coherence, and prefer a pragmatic, proportionate, territorialized approach.”
Taking it to twitter, Castex tweeted (translated from French), “In these 16 departments, new massive measures to curb the epidemic will take place from midnight Friday evening, and for 4 weeks. We are adopting a third way, a way that should allow braking without locking up.” Original tweet in French:
Dans ces 16 départements, de nouvelles mesures de freinage massives de l’épidémie interviendront à compter de ce vendredi soir minuit, et pour 4 semaines.
— Jean Castex (@JeanCASTEX) March 18, 2021
C’est une troisième voie que nous retenons, une voie qui doit permettre de freiner sans enfermer. pic.twitter.com/AkzukWf5O9
The new lockdown will not be as strict as the previous lockdown. Under the new lockdown, the non-essential businesses will remain closed but schools and bookstores will remain open. People will be allowed to exercise outdoors within 10 kms (6 miles) of their home. They will not be allowed to travel to other parts of the country unless they have a valid reason. Those in the affected areas will have to fill out a form to explain why they have left their homes.
Meanwhile, the nationwide curfew will remain in place but with revised timings. The new timings are from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.
Castex further tweeted (translated from French), As we face a new wave of the epidemic, teleworking remains more than ever the rule for all activities that allow it. The labor inspectorate is mobilized to enforce it. The checks will continue.” Original tweet in French:
Alors que nous faisons face à une nouvelle vague de l’épidémie, le télétravail reste plus que jamais la règle pour toutes les activités qui le permettent.
— Elisabeth BORNE (@Elisabeth_Borne) March 18, 2021
L’inspection du travail est mobilisée pour la faire appliquer. Les contrôles vont se poursuivre. pic.twitter.com/FMWBHJZNqn
The French President Emmanuel Macron’s Government has been avoiding the third national lockdown as France will be holding the Presidential polls next year and another lockdown would further impact the economy. But the situation now calls for a strict action as every 4 minutes, a person is entering the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
To help businesses avoid closure, the Government will rely on its furlough scheme, as well as state-backed loans and grants that have been used to backstop the economy since the pandemic began. The additional economic aid will cost an additional € 1.2 billion a month, taking the total to more than € 7 billion a month. The new restrictions are also expected to slow France’s economic growth rate by 0.2% this year.
Besides, France will resume vaccinating using the AstraZeneca jab following the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA’s) announcement that it was fit for use. Earlier, France had suspended the use of the jab, after cases of blood clots were reported in Denmark
